Away win in Ostwestfalen!

Formation

Alexander Nouri made three changes from the side which lost at home to Mainz last week: Peter Pekarik came back into the side for the first time in 307 days, as well as Karim Rekik, Per Skjelbred and new boy Matheus Cunha. Making way were Marius Wolf, Jordan Torunarigha and Pascal Köpke (all three on the bench). SCP coach Steffen Baumgart made one change to his side with the injured Abdelhamid Sabiri making way for Klaus Gjasula.

Match Analysis

The first chance of the game fell to Gjasula too, but was expertly snuffed out by Dedryck Boyata (3’). Shortly after the big Belgian was in the spotlight again, but this time going forward. A good cross from Santiago Ascacibar was met by the head of Boyata and his lopping header made it past the Paderborn keeper and into the back of the net to put the visitors in front (10’). It almost got even better straight after that as January signings Piatek and Cunha combined well to set up Cunha who slotted home, only to have his debut goal ruled out for handball (18’). The game was lacking a bit of tempo in the first half, but Hertha continued to try and get forward, and did so effectively down the right through Pekarik’s crossing. There weren’t many big chances in the first period, but Paderborn almost equalised just before half time, but for the goal line intervention from Per Skjelbred. And so that’s how the two teams went in at the break – with Hertha deservedly leading.

Nouri made a half time change with Vladimir Darida returning for Per Skjelbred in an effort to change things tactically. It was the home side who got off to the better start in the second jalf though, and it didn’t take them long to equalise. Dennis Srbeny’s cross from the by-line was unfortunately knocked into the Hertha goal by Rune Jarstein (51’). The Blue and Whites had to gather themselves after this shock and keep getting forward. Piatek almost scored with a header which curved just wide (58’), before Cunha went one on one with the Paderborn keeper just four minutes later, but his chip was read well by Zingerle (62’). Hertha smelled blood though, and they piled on the pressure in search of the lead, which they duly got as Arne Maier’s effort from distance was parried straight to Piatek. The ball somehow squirmed its way to Matheus Cunha, who backheeled the ball into the back of the net with an amazing effort (67’). In the final stages of the game, Paderborn tried to earn themselves a point, and they might well have done had it not been for a brilliant intervention from Jordan Torunarigha, who saved all three points for the Herthaner and earned the team an important win!

Conclusion and Outlook

Hertha move up the 13th place in the Bundesliga table after their third away win in a row. This coming Saturday, a home game against 1. FC Köln awaits the Herthaner as they look to build on this result.